Christine Johnson

I received some formal art education in high school and college which including drawing, painting and ceramics.  I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango CO.  As a 12-year volunteer in Littleton Public Schools while I was raising my children, I shared my love and knowledge of art and my artistic abilities with students through LPS’s Art Start Program.  After raising my family, I craved to get back to creating.  Unable to get into a popular oil painting class at the time, and along with my life-time love of ceramics and pottery, I delved into the world of creating with “mud” (clay).  I created, displayed and sold my “Functional Pottery Art” from 2007 thru mid-2015.  Deciding to take a break from my ceramic art, I returned to my love of gems and minerals and rockhounding, and started designing my natural semi-precious gemstone jewelry pieces for the Depot Art Gallery in Fall of 2015.  

My Inspiration

My art is inspired by my love of the mountains, the ocean and beach, and really all of nature itself with all its diversity, uniqueness and beauty. I find our Earth and Nature amazing, very special and precious. I also like to add a bit of humor by saying that I’m in love with rocks and mud!  I thrive on the process of creating things of beauty that I hope others will also love and enjoy as much as I have in creating and using them myself.  Whether it is my ceramics or my jewelry, I strive to create, not only a ‘work of art’ of each piece, but also something useful, meaningful and fun to use for a long time. 

My Gemstone Jewelry Art

I believe that ‘Gemstones are our Earth’s own art’.  Each gemstone is an amazing and unique piece of art in its own right, so I like to create simple designs that accentuate each individual stone’s natural beauty, amazing array of colors, and unique features and textures.  My designs usually start with special semi-precious gemstone focals or a pendant that inspires me.  Many times a stone will remind me of things in nature or a certain season. Some even present pictures or scenes within them.  I like using different shapes and sizes of stones as well as other elements such as fresh water pearls, crystals, silver or gold plate, or copper, brass or pewter, creating interest with each piece being a unique ‘one-of-a kind’. My jewelry is fun to wear, easy to dress up or dress down for any occasion or outfit.  Gemstones are timeless.  Revered since ancient times, they are surrounded by symbolism and lore, claiming metaphysical and healing properties, which are also intriguing to me.